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204 Ballads and Songs of Michigan
79 BETSY OF DRAMOOR
For a song which is slightly similar to this Michigan text see 'The Lass of Dunmore," Dean, pp. 47-48, which tells the story of a girl who appears to forget her absent lover.
The present version was chanted in 1935 by Mr. Duncan MacAlpine, Bad Axe, who as a boy learned the song m Ontario, partly from a man he heard sing it in Lampton County, but mainly from a schoolteacher.
1 As I walked out one evening, I roamed for recreation, Quite happy in my station, no care nor trouble knew, To view the sweets of nature and every happy creature, Diffusing, gay, amusing unto the eye that viewed. Bright shining came Aurora accompanied by Flora,
A shining light from Phoebus began to paint the deep.
The larks and linnets singing, each vale with music ringing
As Boreas ceased to grumble when Aeolus went to sleep.
2 The streams from towering mountains united into fountains And run to join the ocean where foaming billows roar. Those pleasures did invade me and pleasantly conveyed me Unto a pleasant harbor called Newcastle Shore.
Whilst thus my thoughts employed, a maid by chance I spied,
And unto me did hied, attended by a boy.
She far outshone Diana, Queen Dido, or Susannah,
Or Helen fair of Pans, the destruction of fair Troy.
3 I stood awhile, I pondered, I at her beauty wondered Till silence broke asunder, I unto her did say:
"Thou fairest of all creatures that's beautified by nature, Doth love disturb her bosom that here alone doth stray?" She modestly replied, "Kind sir, I never loved. It was to view the flowers along the briny shore, But for your great vexation I'll make this declaration, My rural habitation is nigh to sweet Dramoor."
4 Ye nymphs, ye gods, ye muses that thus my mind confuses. To wed does she refuse; it's vain for me to try.
But to my great vexation I'm fast for destination;
My rural habitation is nigh to sweet Dramoor.
I said, "My true love," smiling, "your looks are so beguilingl |
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